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| In her Christmas dress |
The holidays are a serious time sucker! Between caring for my daughter, cleaning the house, buying and wrapping presents, baking, cooking, hosting guests, and driving back and forth to visit Eric's family, we had an extremely busy three weeks. We had a wonderful time, but I think we will be recovering from the holidays until March!
So let's recap all of the incredible things the peanut experienced over the past few weeks:
8 Weeks:
At this point the peanut is not only smiling when Eric and I are directly in front of her speaking in baby voices, but she smiles on her own and when she spots us across the room! She is still loving tummy time and the big deal I make every time she rolls over. She is comfortable letting me know that if it's daytime it doesn't matter where we are (the car), or what we're doing (driving down the interstate), she WILL NOT go more than 4 hours and 10 minutes without eating. And she is finally enjoying bath time enough that she doesn't want her pacifier at all when she's in the tub.
On Tuesday we had a night out with Malory, Brian, and baby Mackenzie. We went for Mexican food and then to the holiday Festival of Lights event on James Island. Malory and I were itching for a margarita, so we prepared in advance and indulged. It's amazing how these little bundles of cuddles can make us feel guilty for even the smallest of indulgences! I was so paranoid I didn't nurse her again until the next morning (don't worry, we had plenty of bottles ready for her). My peanut slept through the whole evening!
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| Charlee's first Christmas tree |
On Wednesday night we had our first Emergency Room visit. I was making Christmas cookies that required me to crush peanuts. At one point she started crying and I went into the other room to give her a pacifier. A minute or two later she had a strange cry. I went back and picked her up to hear that she was wheezing a little. Then she was sticking out her tongue more than usual. Then, finally, she looked like she was trying to cry but no sound was coming out. I quickly put her down, ran into the bedroom to wake up Eric (which only took "Eric, we need to take her to the ER" and he was flying around the room putting on clothes within seconds), put on shoes, and the three of us were out the door. By the time we got to the ER she was fine, but we stayed to be checked by the doctor anyway. Turns out she is fine and might have a peanut allergy, but it could've been a reaction to something else. The doctor also told us she has eczema which can be a reaction to something I am eating. Great. We did find out that she weighs 13 lbs 6 oz too. At least she doesn't have any trouble nursing!
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| Our first night out without the baby! |
Saturday was a big day for the three of us. My mom and stepdad came to visit and offered to babsit for the evening. I begrudgingly agree to leave my precious baby girl for the evening. After going over every scenario with my mother as if she has never been with a baby before, Eric and I headed out for a romantic dinner downtown. We leisurely ate and drank some champagne while I kept checking my phone to make sure the ringer was on. After dinner and a quick cocktail across the street, we came home to check on the baby and get a ride to a nearby bar (don't drink and drive kiddos!). We ran into a friend of Eric's and decided to spend the evening with his group of friends. We had a great time but I was more than ready to go home and cuddle with the peanut by the end of the night!
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| Christmas Eve Eve |
The next day we packed in our cars and drove to Eric's grandmother's for Christmas Eve Eve. It was wonderful to spend time with his family and mine together! We had great food, lots of laughs, and exchanged gifts. I am so happy we were able to participate in that tradition and I look forward to attending in the years to come!
9 Weeks:
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| Waiting for Santa |
Christmas Eve was a nice, relaxing day at our house. My mom and I found a frame for my family portrait and played with the peanut. We cooked our traditional Christmas Eve hors d'houvres (meatballs, cockatil wieners cheese and crackers, sausage, chips and dip) and played Canasta until after midnight. Charlee and I put out some milk and cookies for Santa, and then we all went to bed.
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| The necklace Charlee gave me |
Christmas morning we were all up and going by 9am. We made coffee (in our new coffee maker), opened gifts (Charlee made out like a bandit with clothes and toys), and then made breakfast. I absolutely loved the necklace Charlee gave me with her birthstone and my birthstone surrounding it. Eric also loved his Zippo lighter with the engraving "I'm as lucky as can be because the world's best daddy belongs to me" on it. The rest of the day was filled with talking on the phone, playing with the baby, and cooking Christmas dinner.
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| Christmas Eve 2012 |
The Christmas festivities continued until Friday when we went back to Eric's parents house for their Christmas celebration. We had more delicious food, played with Charlee and her cousin Kimber, and exchanged gifts. Charlee got the cutest carosel from her Granny and Papa that was engraved. She also got toys, clothes, coins, and a really cute hair bow holder that matches her nursery.
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| Playing with Auntie Kaite |
The next day Katie came to visit for two days. Charlee was a little fussy during the visit, but she seemed to enjoy playing with her Auntie Katie and hearing all of her crazy Peace Corps stories. Katie gave Charlee one of those sliding block toys that you always see in doctors offices. I always wanted my own when I was a kid, so I am so excited that Charlee has her own now
10 Weeks:
Monday was New Years Eve and Eric and I made another trip to his parents house for the night. Granny and Papa were babysitting so that we could ring in the New Year together. Although I was still on edge about leaving my peanut, I wasn't nearly as bad as I was with my mother! Eric and I went to dinner, enjoyed a couple drinks, and had our kiss at midnight. Charlee and Granny had a great time and I only had to FaceTime once the whole evening!
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| Napping with Granny |
On New Years Day we went to Eric's grandmother's for a traditional New Years Day lunch. We had pork jowls, meatloaf, mac-n-cheese, collards, sweet potato casserole, corn, black eyed peas, cornbread, and banana pudding. It was delicious! We watched football and played with the babies (Kip, Kimber, and Charlee) until it was time to head back home.
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| 10 weeks |
Charlee had her 2 month appointment on Thursday. She was given one immunization orally and took 3 shots like a champ. She only cried for a couple minutes, but it was enough to make a couple tears fall from my eyes! There is just no way to prepare yourself for hearing your baby's pain cry! Charlee is 14 lbs 6oz and 24 inches long. She is in the 95th (+) percentile for both. The doctor said she isn't worried about her weight because she is so long and most breastfed babies pork up quickly, then taper off and level out after 6 months. The peanuts head is measuring at the 50th percentile. I thought that was funny (you know, big body, little head) until the doctor explained that 50th percentile is a good thing. If she was too small it could mean her brain isn't developing properly and too big could mean she has a more serious condition. So, just like I have always know, she is perfect! I was also told that the blotches on her face aren't eczema but part of her cradle cap. So now we have to use Selson Blue on her head and apply a hydrocortizone cream to the really red marks on her face. She's already looking better (even though the shampoo makes her hair stink).
At this point the peanut is getting to be really interactive. We can put her in her play seat and she reaches for things, she can sit up with very minimal assistance, and loves to smile to get attention. She is playing with toys and likes story time at night. She is even starting to "dance" when her toys play music. The doctor is very impressed with her development and sleep schedule (she called it a "mature sleep schedule"). Now if we can just get her to sleep through the entire night...
